Jnana yoga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Jnana yoga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

J na yoga ("union due to pure knowledge"[1]) is one of the three classical margas, or types of yoga, mentioned in Hindu texts, the other two being karma yoga and bhakti.[2] J na in Sanskrit means "knowledge".[3]

Contents
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Etymology
Definition
Upanishads
Bhagavad Gita
Vedanta
5.1 Classical Advaita Vedanta
See also
Notes
References
Sources

Adi Shankara with

Disciples, by Raja Ravi
Varma (1904),
propounding knowledge of
absolute as of primary
importance

Etymology
The root j - is cognate to English know, as well as to the Greek

- (as in

gnosis). Its antonym is aj na "ignorance".

Definition
Jnana is a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced. It is knowledge inseparable from the total experience of reality, especially a total or divine reality.[4] In Indian religions, it is knowledge which gives release from bondage.[2]
J na yoga is the path towards attaining jnana. It is one of the three classical types of yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies, the other two being karma yoga and bhakti.[2] In modern classifications, classical yoga, being called Raja yoga, is
mentioned as a fourth one, an extension introduced by Vivekananda.[5] While classical yoga emphasizes the practice of dhyana (meditation), J na yoga states that knowing suffices for liberation.[2][note 1]
To attain the full realization experience of jnana yoga enlightenment, one has to practise looking into the truth of differing aspects of human experience in various ways. This could require asking oneself many questions and pertaining to the inner
truth perceived from those questions to find what is essentially and consistently true both inside oneself as a human being and in society.[6]

Upanishads
In the Upanishads, 'jnana yoga aims at the realization of the oneness of the individual self and the ultimate Self.[7]

Bhagavad Gita
In the Bhagavad Gita (13.3) Krishna says that j na consists of properly understanding kshetra (the field of activity, that is, the body) and kshetrajna (the knower of the body, that is, the soul or Atman).[web 1] Later in the Gita (13.35) Krishna
emphasizes that a transcendentalist must understand the difference between these two:
Those who see with eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body, and can also understand the process of liberation from bondage in material nature, attain to the supreme goal. [web 2]

Vedanta
The Advaita philosopher Adi Shankara gave primary importance to j na yoga as "knowledge of the absolute" (Brahman), while the Vishishtadvaita commentator Ramanuja regarded knowledge only as a condition of devotion.[1]

Classical Advaita Vedanta

Classical Advaita Vedanta emphasises the path of Jnana Yoga, a progression of study and training to attain moksha. It consists of four stages: [8][web 3]
Samanyasa or Sampattis,[9] the "fourfold discipline" ( dhana-catustaya), cultivating the following four qualities:[8][web 3]

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Nity nitya vastu viveka (

) The ability (viveka) to correctly discriminate between the eternal (nitya) substance (Brahman) and the substance that is transitory existence (anitya).
Ih mutr rtha phala bhoga vir ga (
) The renunciation (vir ga) of enjoyments of objects (artha phala bhoga) in this world (iha) and the other worlds (amutra) like heaven etc.
am di atka sampatti (
) the sixfold qualities,
ama (control of the antahkarana).[web 4]
Dama (the control of external sense organs).
Uparati (the cessation of these external organs so restrained, from the pursuit of objects other than that, or it may mean the abandonment of the prescribed works according to scriptural injunctions). [note 2]
Titik a (the tolerating of t patraya).
raddh (the faith in Guru and Vedas).
Sam dh na (the concentrating of the mind on God and Guru).
Mumuk utva (
) The firm conviction that the nature of the world is misery and the intense longing for moksha (release from the cycle of births and deaths).
Sravana, listening to the teachings of the sages on the Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta, and studying the Vedantic texts, such as the Brahma Sutras. In this stage the student learns about the reality of Brahman and the identity of atman;
Manana, the stage of reflection on the teachings;
Nididhy sana, the stage of meditation on the truth "that art Thou".[web 3][web 5]

See also
Vedanta
Yoga Vasistha
Vivekachudamani
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Bhakti yoga
Diamond Sutra Perfection of Wisdom
Kevala Jnana
Ramana Maharshi

Notes
1. See for example H. W. L. Poonja, who regarded knowledge alone to be enough for liberation.

2. nivartit
21]

mete

tadvyatiriktavi ayebhya uparama amuparatirathav vihit

karma

vidhin parity ga [Ved ntas ra,

References
1. Flood 1996, p. 127.
2. Matilal 2005, p. 4928.
3. Apte 1965, p. 457.

4. "jnana (Indian religion) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com.

Retrieved 2012-05-15.
5. Michelis 2005.
6. Merchand, Peter, 'The Yoga of Truth: Jnana Yoga', Destiny Books, 2007, p 3-5.

7. Jones & Ryan 2006, p. 511.

8. Puligandla 1997, p. 251-254.
9. Adi Shankara, Tattva bodha (1.2)

Sources
Printed sources
Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 81-208-0567-4 (Fourth revised and enlarged edition).
Basu, Asoke (June 2004). "Advaita Vedanta and Ethics". Religion East and West (4): 91105.
Feuerstein, Georg (2001). The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice. Prescott, Arizona: Hohm Press. ISBN 1-890772-18-6. (Unabridged, New Format Edition).
Flood, Gavin (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-43878-0
Jones, Constance; Ryan, James D., eds. (2006), Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Infobase Publishing
Matilal, Bimal Krishna (2005), "Jnana", in Jones, Lindsay, MacMillan Encyclopedia of Religions, MacMillan
Michelis, Elizabeth De (2005), A History of Modern Yoga, Continuum
Puligandla, Ramakrishna (1985). Jna-Yoga--The Way of Knowledge (An Analytical Interpretation). New York: University Press of America. ISBN 0-8191-4531-9.
Puligandla, Ramakrishna (1997), Fundamentals of Indian Philosophy, New Delhi: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd.
Varenne, Jean; Derek Coltman (1976). Yoga and the Hindu Tradition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-85114-1.

Web-sources
1. B-Gita 13.3 (http://vedabase.net/bg/13/3/en1)
2. B-Gita 13.35 (http://vedabase.net/bg/13/35/en1)
3. "Advaita Yoga Ashrama, ''Jnana Yoga. Introduction''". Yoga108.org. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
4. "Antahkarana- Yoga (definition)". En.mimi.hu. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
5. Oxford Index, nididhy sana (http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100234232)

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